There may also be messages written down on scraps of paper if they aren’t home.

Reminisce dating in the 1990s? If you weren’t born yet or didn’t have the privilege of dating in that spectacular decade, here are some major differences inbetween dating now versus then.

Then: Have your friends set you up with someone they know. You will most likely not see this person until the moment you actually meet, unless your friend has a picture of them in an old photo album from college, so make sure you get a detailed description of what they look like over the phone. Hope they don’t lie.

Now: You swiped right because they were hot.

Two. Narrowing down your choices

Then: You could also check the individual ads in the back of your city’s weekly newspaper. Look for SWM, SBF, GHM, etc.

Now: Stalk the living crap out of them on social media to be sure they’re hot/interesting/have a job/aren’t catfishing you. Google and Switch roles Photo Search are your best friends. Then lose interest fully because, eww, he used the X-Pro filter way too much on Instagram, and suffers from an embarrassing case of hashtag manhandle. And she has a disturbing number of duck-faced selfies and might possibly charge people to witness her do laundry naked over a webcam.

Then: You have to call their house to talk to them. Someone else (Roomie? Sibling? Parent?) will response. You will have to ask if they are there.

There will be an elaborate song and dance involving dangling up one receiver and picking up the phone in the upstairs bedroom as opposed to the one in the kitchen where there’s no privacy. There may also be messages written down on scraps of paper if they aren’t home.

You will have severe anxiety wondering if their little sister actually gave them the message, if it was written down correctly, or if they can read the handwriting. If you’re fortunate, you can just leave a message on their answering machine and hope their dad doesn’t erase it.

Now: Text them. It’s way lighter not having to talk to anyone.

6. Going out on an actual date

Then: Permit the fellow to pick you up at your house in his car.

Now: Hell no is anyone letting a strange dude pick them up at home. You’ve seen the ID Channel. Everyone is a narcissist/sociopath/rapist/cannibal-axe murderer/ISIS recruiter these days.

7. Passing the test of chivalry

Then: Do not fail the test. You know, the one where after he opens your car door you have to reach over and unlock the driver’s side door before he gets in.

Now: Automated door locks. Instead, the damsel now has to suggest to pay. This test goes both ways, however, because the dude must absolutely not let her. Ever.

8. Getting to your date destination

Then: When you’re driving to the place where you’re going to meet, as you drive you will need to refer to elaborate handwritten directions on a chunk of notebook paper that she dictated to you in advance of the date, over the phone.

Now: Earnestly? Uber that sh*t.

9. Preparing for sexual encounters, just in case

Then: Trim your gams below the knee.

Ten. Committing to pre-date dieting

Then: Pre-date crash diet, so you aren’t bloated.

Now: Do a three-day juice cleanse that costs $150 so you can rid your figure of toxins and make a good impression, which you will not do if your figure is harboring toxins.

11. Determining what to do on the date

Then: Dinner and a movie (as in, actual restaurant and theater).

This article was originally published at victoriafedden.com. Reprinted with permission from the author.